Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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575. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of a small UK pension is entitled to the living alone and fuel allowances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4182/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €630 each year) from October to April, to over 372,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €240 million in 2019. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.

It is important to note that people in receipt of a British State pension or an equivalent pension from other EU countries are eligible to receive the fuel allowance payment on the same basis as Irish State pension recipients. For my Department to determine a person's entitlement to fuel allowance he or she must submit an application form. My Department has no record of the person concerned submitting an application for fuel allowance.

The Living Alone Increase is a €9 increase in the weekly rate of payment of certain Irish social protection payments, awarded where the recipient is living alone. These payments include State pensions, disability allowance, invalidity pension, incapacity supplement and blind pension. It is not a stand-alone payment.

People in receipt of the British state pension or equivalent payments from other EU countries, are not entitled to receive the Irish living alone increase to that payment, as the respective rates of those payments to people living alone or with other people, are set by national legislation in those countries. There are no circumstances where the living alone increase can be paid to people who are not in receipt of a qualifying payment from my Department in the first place.

Certain people who live in Ireland and receive a UK pension may qualify for a State pension (non-contributory). This is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, who do not qualify for a State pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. To be eligible for a State pension (non-contributory), an applicant must:

- be aged 66 years or over,

- have a legal right of residence in the State,

- be habitually resident in the State,

- have a valid Personal Public Service Number (PPSN),

- satisfy a means test, and

- if awarded the pension, continue to satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition and the applicable means test.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.